davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1887-12-23

feelings. Through the crowded and
brilliant main street. she wandered,
dazed by the glaring lights, the snowy
windows of Christmas-decked stores
and the endless procession ofhurrying
people. She felt sure Santa Claus
would not venture to drive his wild
deer through such a street. Then she
turned into a darker avenue andsoon
was hurrying along in the bitter cold
night, under an 4rcn of skeleton
branches through which the steely
stars flashed brightly. On either side
OF the spacious avenue were stately
houses, surrounded by wide, snow
covered lawns.
The warm thoughts and hopes in
the little ones breast were chilling.
Her legs were so tired, her hands were
numb, and the tears we're almost
freezing on her cheeks. Ii she did not
meet him soon she feared that she
must sit down on q bank ofsnow and
wait for him. Would not the good
old saint see her if she lay with her
face to the stars? Would he not rein
up his swift team, and, taking her i'm
to the Capacious sled, cover her with
his warm robes of fur? And if he had
forgotten the lamb and the guinea,
and the doves, perhaps she could tell
him about the old house near the or
chard, and they might drive that way
and get them.
Her eyes we're growing heavy now.
II she should 60 to sleep she might
never see him. The thought gave her
new courage and she wandered on.
almost ready to sink downin the soft
snow.
Suddenly she saw twogreat, motion
less deer standing on the lawn Of g.
stately house. Her senses were numb-
ed with cold, but her childish fancy
imagined that that must be thesteam
which the kind saint drove. He had
been chilled driving so far on that bit
ter night, and had embarrassed his
team, while he warmed himself bv
some hospitable nreside.
Lena ventured up the steps between
tall, white pillars, and ran along the
porch to where she saw the red
glare OF fire through q window. She
pressed her face close to the pane and
tried to make ont the fguers ii the
semi-darkness. There vas q sad-fae-
ed lady with tears il her eyes, and be-
side her q kindly, generous man. They
were seeing visions in glowing Goals, 81
happy Christmas eyes, so many years
ago, when a little girl made the house
merry, ana they kept the JOYOUS
Christmas festival with her. But the
visions always ended With asnow-cov.
cred grave on the hillside at Mount
Hope.
It looked SO warm and comfortable
u there Lena felt sure that Santa
Claus must be somewhere ID thereon.
The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1887-12-23

So she pressed her eyes still closer TO
the pane. The fearful woman, sud-
denly looking up through the mists
that filled her eyes, saw q VISION OF
golden hair and wistful'looklng eyes.
1t startled her, it was so akin to her
thoughts. Just then Lena beat her
soft hand upon the window andcrled;
"Is Santa Claus there? Please let
me in to see him. Pm so cold"
The grave man quickly lifted the
sash and the little one walked con-
fdently into the room, expecting to.
find her gray-bearded friend and tell
him all her troubles. Her teeth chat.
tered and her tears were falling last.
She had been so brave till now, but
her last hope was gone, and her heart
was breaking. They comforted hera
best they could, gave her warm food
and brought back the color to her
cheeks. Then they heard the little
child tell the story OF her quest, so
simply, earnestly and naturally that
they loved her.
They told her that the friend OF
children came in the dark hours after
midnight, when sleep was deepest;
that he was already on the way, and
if she would go to sleep on the soft
couch they would prepare for her, in
the morning, when she opened her
eyes, she would find the gifts which he
had brought her. They did not think
that such a kind-hearted man would
bring her pet lamb and doves on such
a bitter night; but when the warm
spring days came he would surely send
them back to her.
The weary child was satisfied, and
calmly went to sleep with q smile OF
expectancy on her face.
Long closed closets were opened,
and q darkened nursery explored.
The treasures of the dead child were
brought out to gladden. the heart OF
the homeless Lena. Noiselessly they
piled them around the bed and over
it and in all the hooks and orner Of
The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1887-12-23

mother. Down among the orn it
touched the face of one In a deeper
sleep than the innocent girl OF the
hardened woman.
Then the star drew in the slender
silver wires along which it had heard
the hum of an awakening world. For
the sun had sent forth its myriads Of
golden-winged messengers to start the
wheels in great factories, to paint the
earth with brighter colors, to softly
touch the eyelids OF the sleepers. And
one ~glittering spirit tripped across the
shocks of corn, and the brown tassels
became golden as she ps5sed. Look
ing down, she saw a blood
stained staring face in the shadow of
the corn. With a shudder she darted
toward the house and in at the brok-
en- window. The dust in dark corners
! spanked at her coming; the cobwebs
glistened like spun gold, and the dingy
walls were frightened. Fondly she
fingered oyer she rude picture of the
sad and kindly man, and touched
with glory the lilies OF the field.
On the couch Of the sieepers she
rested a moment, then covered her
| eyes with her wings as she passed the
evil face of the woman. Her fairy feet
were caught by the golden hair OF the
| sleeping child. and lightly she fell up-
on her lips. The spirits wings swept
the childss warm checks, and the rich
| color spred over them; she kissed the
closed lids softly; they futtered and
opened at the gentlasumm0ns. twas
the fairesb sight the sun spirit had
looked upon since the day, months
before. when on q hillside she had
stopped to kiss a violet with a dew
drop shining IN ITS cup. Out OF the
window she flew, and joined her sis,
tiers swarming in the bright October
Dir.
Lena sat i0r q few minutes looking
out Of the window, and down toward
the cornfield, wondering whether il
was cruel for the farmer to xiii her IA
Their. She knew It would be cruel to
kill her pet lamb, Winnie, as her fa-
ther had often threatened to do; but
the lamb loved her SO and was kind
to every ONE. Her father was often
very Cross, but yesterday he had
promised TO bring her a guinea fowl.
Yer. she believed she would take Win.
ME with her, and 20 down to tho field
to look for her father. She wondered
whether the farmer had killed him for
stealing her guinea.
$50 the little nirl put on her few rag.
qed clothes and went into the shed.
The lamb afIectionately licked her
rosy cheek to eamboled out Of 1.-THE
1 dr0r. aulfinu hpp nffnr. VnrQfhnr they
The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1887-12-23

the room, until it seemed to be the
very bower of Santa Claus.
While they worked their sorrow
grew lighter, for the spirit
OF the blessed Christmas was in their
souls. In sympathy they clasped each
others hands and stood looking at
the sleeping child. The innocent smile,
the golden hair and the flushed cheeks
were not more beautiful than on the
morning when Lena slept on d humble
bed in the murderer's cottage. But
the crime had never touched her pure
life.
Out OF the mire a lily had raised it's
tender stem, and now it had been
transplaned to bloom in a lovely gar.
den watched by tender a
Not far away the Cathedrars mid
night chimes were ringing Good will
to men," and into the room where
the child was sleeping came the melo-
dy which the choir was chanting
Consider the lilies Of the field"
The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1887-12-23

haps if she was very obedient q kind
old man called Santa Claus might
bring her pets back to her at CHRIST
mas time. 1t was an idle tale, told
to bring ~momentary comfort to Lena's
sad heart; but the child fed upon it.
She listened to the many stories which
the children of the home told about
the strange, benevolent saint who
came once a year to make real the
wishes OF the little ones. Gradually
she built up the whole nursery
mythology, OF reindeer and sled and
over-fowing pack. A new realm
Of infancy was opened to this un'
taught murdarer's child. For days
she wandered in it, and the re-
pressed affections OF her narrow lie
blossomed in the fairy land. Home,
tender care and mothers love she had
never known as others know them.
Her only comradeship mad been with
the animals, which could not speak
their affection for her. So her heart
went out toward the kindly old man,
with flowing white beard, who could
bring her dearest wish to her.
Al IeIgLu Lu6 CullOEGn Sdlu GhdC
that night he was coming. How weari-
ly the hours dragged onl Then the
early winter twilight fell, and night
brooded over the s~now-covered city.
The children in the home were all
restless, and chatted endIessly about
their great expectations. But Lena
was out of sympathy with their Wis
ions cI Eteamino DuddinO. new nit
tens and toys. She believed that her
dumb playmates were coming back to
her; that again she would love and be
loved by them.
Lena finally tired of waiting and
listening for the sound ofthe reindeer's
feet. The rules were relaxed that
Christmas eve, and in the general con-
fusion the girl slipped out of the house
unnoticed and went in search OF the
kind old saint.
She was thinly clad, but her
heart was full of warm, tumultuous
The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1887-12-23

childless man. trudging to his daily
work in the busy city. Lena forgot
about tbs dead man, and gave herself
up to her morning frolic with the
lamb. When both were tired the lamb
nibbled at the long, %succulent grass
around the trees.
By and by Lena thought OF the
guinea fowl and "a of toward the old
wagon standing in the usual place
near the house. Tying the lamb to
one of the wheels, she clambered in
among the cages. Her father had
kept his promise this time, for there
was the guinea sticking its comical
red and white head through the bars.
Lena thought that she might kiss her
father for being so good if he did not
look too cross that morning; she had
never done so before, but her face
frightened when she thought that if
the man had killed her father she
might kiss him, and he would not
know it and be angry with her.
Death was such an unknown, mys-
terious thing to the little one. She
remembered when her father had kill
ed her dog Jack, for biting him. Then
they had dug a hole in the ground
and put poor Jack in it, and he never
played with her again. And Lena's
eyes filled with tears for her old play
fellow.
But the tears OF childhood are
quickly dried. The living guinea was
worth a hundred dead pets. Taking
it fondly in her arms, and leading the
lamb, she started down to the corn
field to find an ear for it. The guinea
put up its long, graceful neck and
pecked at her red lips p~layfully, as
though they we're cherries. And what
cherry had richer hue! How all dumb
animals made friends with Lena as if
she were kin to them!
They wandered together through
the corn on that bright morning, the
heart OF the little girl filed with
pleasure. Again and again she tried
to pull 40 ear from its stock, but her
The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1887-12-23

"he'll soon be here now. 1t might as
we'll be tonight as any other"
Ice d~extereasly tipped the burnt
and noddinG, ~;uK from the top OF the
candle with She point OF his knife, and
assented.
There was O. lull in the storm, and
they heard the creaking of wagon
wheels along the heavy road. There
was a fiutter among the animals in
the shed, and the lamb bleated aztec
tionatoly. Joe calmly picked up the
candle and walked into the shed
through the inner door. His
eyes fell upon a cleaning
ak blade, and, putting his knife
back in its sheath, he stopped to pick
up the surer instrument of death.
The lamb was near him, and affec.
tionately licked his hand. He gently
stroked it for q moment. But the
wagon stopped creaking, ne heard the
peddIer's heavy footsteps on q plank,
and soon after the rattling of the
chain or the OUT door OF the shed.
Putting the caluie on the ground, he
suddenly jumped toward the door
with the ak uplifted. The woman
standing at the door OF the inner
room, quietly gave the word:
"Now, Joe!"-and it was done.
Together they carried him to the
field of corn, and laid him beside one
Of the shocks. They made no effort
at concealment; they only aimed to
get rid of an unpleasant object. They
were familiar enough with crime to-
know that where there is least con.
cealment THERE'S the greatest mystery
Then they put the old horse in the
shed and fed the bleating lamb. Salts
fed with his achievement, Joe started
across the orchard to his home.
The woman pushed the child to one
side and lay down to a heavy, con-
scienceless sleep.
Wind and rain had ceased, and
through the window the morning star
reached in it's siIvery fingers and
touched the faces of the child and it's
The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1887-12-23
SUNDAY Morning.

arms were very short, and she was
almost discouraged when she spied
within reach. Just as she was
about to sit down to feed the guinea
she saw a rough-looking pair OF boots
stricking out from behind the shock.
So she went round on the other side,
and there she found her father.
Yes, he must be dead. The angry
look was out of his face; he did not
speak harshy TO her; he was very,
very still. That was an ugly red stain
on his brow, and his eyes stared wild
~; but she would KISS him once for
bringing a new pet to her. For a brief
moment the warm lips OF the child
rested on the cold, dead face.
The sunshine now flooded the field.
Lena sat dc n beside the dead, and
the lamb curled up at her feet. One
by IN she took the grains of corn be-
tween her lips, and the guinea picked
them away. She made the animals
her coniidants, and prattled childishly
to them. They were so happy to-
gether-the lily of the field and Gods
innocent creatures, by the side of the
murdered man
There a police officer found them on
his way home, across the field, after q
nights duty in the city. ~Innocently
and frankly Lena answered his eager
questions: Mamma had told her
when she opened her eyes thai morn
ing that a wicked farmer must have
killed her father down in the corn last
night; that mamma went right to
sleep again, because she was tired sit
ting up all the night; her father was
very cross and quarreled with mann
ma; and q fe~rce-looking man often
came to their hoIse when her father
was absent.
But our story is not of the retribu-
tion OF criminals: in it's own time and
way the law satisfied what it calls
justice.
Our story is rather of mercy, which
shed it's dews on the lily III the field,
though it ~hadsprung from such nox-
tous soil. And III due time the Iily was
transplanted to d beautiful garden.
Lena was put in a home for the
friendless. Its orderly comforts were
far better than anything her short
life Ind known; but she pined for free
dom. How She lonQed' for her pets
the lamb, the guinea and the doves.
with her uilTstered life ID the opan
air. There Swas no one to tell
her Joys and troubles to now,
and sometimes she felt that her heart
was breaking She had nothing Ia
common with the scores of other little
girls ii brown cotton dresses and
Shite aprons, They Iauahe6 1t her
stories obout her pets. As the weeks
Went by her blue eyes grew dreamy
afidtearful.
One day ateacher told her that per-
The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-12-31
MANCHESTER MATTERS. Z.
Notes from our southern brooklyn.


Friday night between 70 and o'clock
Mrs. Sarah A. Watts died al the residence
Of her husband. NJ y. J. Watts. short
distance from Manchester, after short
Illness. She had been in bad health a
long time and her death though sudden
was not VI expected.
For several years Mrs. Watts lived at
The handsome Drewry mansion near
Manchester, where Mr.. Watts carried on
the dairy business The funeral will take
place 10 day from the premises.
Inquiry among the members OF the
Finance Committee as TO their secret
NEE ing Thursday night revealed little or
nothing. i hey talked about lighting the
city and thought the matter over among
themselves. They will meet again and
formulate something for the Council to
act on. There secret meetings always
give people chance 10 talk.
Mrs James NJ. Doutlet of Rum Side,
Charles City county, who visited hel
friends in the city and attended the
marriage Of her cousin Mrs. Taylor, hos
Walden, returned home yesterday morn.
inc.
YESTERDAY morning The ladies and gen
tlfm men who went mp 10 'NlcheauE
Grant" TO attend the reception OF Mr. ana
Mrs.. William Michcaux, lately married, re-
turned in happy spirits There was about
dozen Of them and one OF the gentle
men told the reporter they had delight
ful time.
Mrs. Lee A. Bass has returned home
after a pleasant visit to the city. Hei
mother. Mrs. Cox, accompanied her
Yesterday not case was before ms
Honor the Mayor. The Christmas cele.
brants who painted the town red were all
let of beautifully at the former sessions
Of the court Mayor Taylor is conscien-
tious in all his actions.
The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-12-31
TELEGHAPHIC SUMMARY.

Dor Carlos has issued a manifesto de-
clar.ng that it is his duty TO reserve his
riglis as head Of the House Of Bourbon
10 both the French and Spanish thrones.
4 passenger train collided yesterday
with q snow. blocked freight train at
Ayilla, Spain. Several persons are re-
ported killed and wounded.
Smith has sent an answer to Sulliyan's :
chellenge in which he says that he will
be ready TO dght the latter after bis match
with Mitchell has come of for any
money Sullivan likes.
Laura Webster OF San Francisco. aged
eighteen, has apparently been asleep for
seventy days Her physicians admin.
ister liquid food to her through a tube
She is wasting away The prolonged
slumber was preceded by chronic uer-
yOus arrangement.
A commiiteco Of Methodist ministers has
found Rev. Mr. Wallace Of Chillico,he
guilty OF making love to three women
of his parish, and leading them 10 believe
that he was TO marry them. He IS sus-
pended pending an appeal to the con-
ference.
The blacksmiths and harnessmakers Of
Kildysant, ireland, have received letters
threatening them with death II they 10
any work for the police or for persons
who have been boycotted. The black
smiths have in consequence refused TO
work for the parties mentioned
There appears to be no truth whatever
in the reports sent out from Washington
concerning the health of Senator Joseph
s. Blackburn He was present at q ban
Quet at Eminence Ky, last night and
made a speech, and participated with the
heartiness usual to him upon such occa
sons He was at Frankfort yesterday
whore the legislative session was inaugu-
rated
Harper the convicted vice president
Of the defunct Fidelity Bank OF Cincin-
natl, Ohio, IS having a royal time in
States prison. He has not been required
20 shave his moustache or clip his hair
lie INDUCES but little In the coarse fare
Of the prison, but Is supplied from the
good tables Of his family in Cincinnati
lie has the run Of the institution, going
whittier he will, but in order hat the
time may not hang too heavily on his
hands ne does bit Of clerical work 10
the office OF Secretary Clement His
cell is fitted up in royal style, although
when he was first admitted he was in-
formed that he would be allowed nothing
beyond what was furnished ali prisoners
by the State. The partality shown him
excites much comment
The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-12-31
afADI, OK COUNTY.
The Late John owen snyder and His Mys-
terious Disease--G eneral Mention.


MADISON c. IT., Va, December 20.-ln
your paper Of The 2Sth instant read an
account Of wonderful John Owen Snyder
who recently died at his home In Indiana.
John O. Snyder was born in this county
about four miles north Of this place, and
near the confluence Of the Robertson river
and Muatlo run. The writer knew well
the father Of John, but does not remem-
Der the young man, although doubtless
having seen him when a child. James
Snyder, the father OF the strange man
whose mysterious aifiicliOn has so puz-
lied the medical world, was rather eccel-
tric himself He scarcely wore a coat in
the coolest weather, aud II is reported Of
him that on one OF the bitlerest mornings
of very cold winter a neighbOr
in passing his house ,omplained Of
being cold, when Snyder remark
ed. Do YOU call this cold
weather? Why, ! slept without
cover until just before day, when Fannie
Ibis Wife told Inc that had better pull
The eet over me =" James Snyder, the
father OF John O., married Miss Car
penter of this county, had several child
len. and good many years ago moved
his family TO Indiana. Urtil John Owen's
Affections very little was heard from the
family. ! write more fully Of this case
thar / would otherwise do because Of the
interest the public have manifested
touching il.
The weather is intensely cold, and if IL
continues for few days there will be an
abundance Of ice.
Christmas has passed off very quietly
and hope everybody will be prepared
for the new year so close at hand.
A New Years greeting 10 you and all
your readers. REX.
The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-12-31

la the Police Court yesterday William
Archer and Samuel Robinson lbOth col
oredl were charged with being disor-
q rly I'm the street Thtir cases were
continued until to-day.
Charles Williams, a vagrant wss sent
TO iail for FIVE days in default Of surety.
William Lee (coored), was fined 50 and
costs for using indecent language IN the
public street.
William Britain was charged with
trespassng on the premises of Silvia
Jones and creating a disturbance He
was required TO furnish surety for his
good behavior.
Henry Jones (coloredl, fast driving in
the street. Filod $40 and costs.
John Lewis, a small negro boy, was
arrested for stealing an oyerc0at from
some one unknown. In the absence OF
witnesses the case was continued until
to-day, and the negro committed.
Peter Moore (colored) was fined 81 90
for attempting TO rescue a prisoner from
Policeman Foster
William French (colored) was arrested
on warrant sworn ont by Rosa Ward
charging him with stealing ss in currency
irOY her. French when brought before
the court plead guilty and was given
sixty days in jail.
Tie continued case of Leslie Clifford,
charged with striking Ida Lee with 6
China mug, was called The evidence
showed that the two women, who oc-
cupy rooms upstairs over 4O5 East
Brosd street, got into dispute and then
fight Ida used a stoye.lifter as her
weapon, and Leslie used ihe China mug.
Leslie aimed better than her antagonist,
and cut Ida on the head, making wound
one aud half inches long. The court
deemed the fight half.and-half, and re-
quired both OF the women 10 give bond
and surety for their good behavior for
twelve months.
The usual number OF trihing cases
were disposed Of
The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-12-31
HunRAm TOR Old KsNrUcKY
Generou. Donation to tie Soldiers Homo

Generous Donation to the Soldiers Home.
Messrs Bramhlet and Gibsol OF
Carlisle, Kentucky, have generously do
mated through their commission mer-
chants, Mossrs Carr and Dickinson OF
this city. the sum OF hfy dollars ioI the
Soldiers Home
This kindly romcmtrucc ol The oid
soldiers at this particular time is very
praiseworlhy,a and it is hoped that tins no
ble act from distant friends will stinulaie
others TO do likewise There are at present
twenty applications from the manned
soldiers of our lost cause seeking admis-
sion To the home, but the managers can
not take them i'm for lack OF means. VIII
not kind friends afar of as well as those
near us contribute of their abundance 70
these noble men and this charitable IN
siituuon Contributions Of.money and
provisions VIII be thankfully received
This is one of the most laudable works tc
which the old Conicderatcs and their
friends could possibly contribute. Nc
appeal for its support should be included
especially as IL is not merely Virgin
ian. Int Southern institution